In Iconium: unbelieving Jews stir up the Gentiles against the
work; worship offered and refused in Lystra, followed by stoning
and departure

Their missionary labours continue in Iconium with the same
opposition from the Jews who, incapable themselves of the work, stir
up the Gentiles against those who are performing it. As long as it was
only opposition, it was but a motive for perseverance; but, being
warned in time of an assault that was planned against them, they
depart to Lystra and Derbe. There, having healed a cripple, they
excite the idolatrous respect of these poor pagans; but, filled with
horror, they turn them from their error by the energy of the Holy
Ghost -- faithful to the testimony of their God. Hither also the Jews
follow them. Now, if man will not ally himself with the idolatry of
the heart, and accept exaltation from men, the power of his testimony,
which they began by admiring as long as they thought they could
elevate man and acquire importance through their flatteries being
accepted, ends by exciting the hatred of their hearts. The Jews bring
this hatred into action and stir up the people, who leave Paul for
dead. But he rises up and re-enters the city, remaining tranquilly
there another day, and on the morrow he goes with Barnabas to
Derbe.

The close of the first formal mission to the Gentiles; its
results

Afterwards they revisit the cities through which they had
passed, and at Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they confirm the
disciples in the faith, and teach them that they must pass through
tribulation to inherit the kingdom. They choose elders for them; and
passing through some other cities to the place where they had
disembarked, they return to Antioch, from whence they had been
commended to God for the work, causing great joy to the disciples
there in that the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles. This is
the first formal mission among the Gentiles where assemblies are
formed, elders appointed by the apostles, and the hostility of the
Jews to the grace of God, outside their nation and independently of
their law, is distinctly marked. The word assumes a positive character
among the Gentiles, and the energy of the Holy Ghost displays itself
to this end, constituting and forming them into assemblies,
establishing local rulers in them, outside and independently of the
action of the apostles and assembly at Jerusalem, and the obligation
of the law which was still maintained there. A question concerning
this (that is, whether it could be allowed) is soon raised at
Antioch. It is no longer the opposition of the Jews hostile to the
gospel, but the bigotry of those who had embraced it, desiring to
impose the law on the converted Gentiles. But the grace of God
provides for this difficulty also.